Improvement in means of propelling vessels



Patented July 29,1873.

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UNITED f STATEs PATENT QFFIGE.

JAMES W. EVANS, 0E NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MEANS OF PROPELLING'VESSELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,340, dated July 29, 1873; application filed March 1, 1873.

. I into their cylinders mainly through the branches before mentioned, and as they move outward the water is forced out, and, by reactin g on the body of water behind the boat, propels the latter forward.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the propelling device taken through one of the cylinders, and Fig.

2 is a top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

A A are the two cylinders, which are arranged in the stern of the boatone on each side of the rudder-post. They are inclined to the keel of the boat, so that the water expelled from them will be directed slightly downward and will not create a wave to wash the banks of a canal. These cylinders are open at the mouth or outer end, and are fitted with pistons B B, which have a reciprocating motion imparted to them by eccentrics O O on a shaft, 1), which is driven by a steam-engine or other means. Branches G G unite with the cylinders A A near their mouths, and extend toward the bow of the vessel, so that the water which follows up the pistons as they recede within their cylinders will be conducted from, the fore portion of the vessel, so that its progress is rather assisted than retarded by the induction of water to the cylinders. 1 The piston-rods pass through stuffing-boxes on the inner ends of the cylinders, and are connected with the rods of the eccentrics. The pistons current of water created by the movement of the pistons toward the bow of the boat. These elbows, in practice, will be shifted by a lever, under control of the engineer, and they might be made to assist in steering the boat when desirable to turn short, by shifting one only into operation, so that the force of one piston will be acting to back the boat while the other is working to propel it.

As the pistons move inward water rushes into the cylinders through the branches G, and also through their mouths, and as they move outward they expel it with forceand create a reaction on the water adjacent to them, and thereby cause the boat to move in the opposite direction. As the pistons move inward their valves open and equalize the A pressure on both sides of the pistons, and also permit the water behind the pistons to pass through them. The water rushes in after the receding pistons and fills that portion of the cylinders in front of them. When the pistons move outward the valves close, and the water is expelled from the cylinders with much force.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the cylinders A A, provided with branches G G, and arranged at an incline to the keel of the boat, and the pistons B B and their valves a a, essentially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES W. EVANS.

Witnesses FRED. HAYNES, DAVID MISELL. 

